ArticleBMC public health2025
Mental health of medical students who took a leave of absence during the 2024 medical crisis in South Korea.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundOn February 6, 2024, the South Korean government's decision to increase the medical school admission quota triggered a nationwide collective leave of absence involving > 95% of medical students. We aimed to assess the mental health status of medical students on leave and to identify factors that could mitigate psychological distress.
methodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted between August 12 and August 23, 2024. A total of 203 responses were collected and evaluated. Depression and stress were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Korean version of the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K), respectively. Additionally, factors that may contribute to depression, such as external stressors, time spent on social media, and time engaged in exercise, were examined. Predictors of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the direct effect of stress on depression and the indirect effects mediated by social media use and exercise.
resultsDepression was observed in 42.4% (n = 86) of participants (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and showed a higher prevalence among female students and those in earlier academic years. Logistic regression analysis identified significant associations between the PHQ-9 score and BEPSI-K score, social media use, and total exercise time. A mediation analysis clarified the relationship between stress (as indicated by higher BEPSI-K scores) and depression (as indicated by higher PHQ-9 scores), as well as the exacerbating effect of social media use and the protective effect of exercise.
conclusionsThe mental health of medical students on collective leave of absence in South Korea is a critical concern. Continuous monitoring and interventions are essential, with strategies such as increasing physical activity and reducing social media use showing potential for mitigating psychological distress.
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